LABORATORY NO.

6
SURVEYOR’S HAND SIGNAL

A decent arrangement of hand signals between individuals from a studying party is a more
proficient method for communication than is conceivable by overhearing people's
conversations. Any code of flags commonly comprehended by the people dealing with the
instrument and the bar is acceptable in the event that it works. When the "shot" is done, brief
motioning by the instrument overseer permits the pole holder to move speedily to the
following point. It is likewise alluring to have a framework of flagging so that numbers can
be sent from bar holder to instrument overseer or the other way around.There are times on a
jobsite when crew members may be too far away from one another to hear each other. In
these situations, Land Surveyors and Construction workers use hand signals to communicate
over distance and noise.
1. ALL RIGHT. The “all right” is given by the instrument man when the alignment is
OK fora plumb line, a range pole, a stake, a hub, or any other device used as a target,
or when the instrument man has finished all activities at your location. It is given by
waving both arms up and down while extending them out horizontally from the
shoulders. If the instrument man, in aligning a target, extends both arms out
horizontally from the shoulders without waving them, the signal means that the target
should be held steady while a quick check of its position is being made.
2. MOVE RIGHT OR LEFT. This signal is given by the instrument man when lining in
a target on a predetermined line. It is given by moving the appropriate hand outward
from the shoulder. A slow motion of the hand means that you must move a long
distance; a quick, short motion means that you must move a short distance.
3. GIVE ME A BACKSIGHT. This signal is given when the instrument man wants a
target held at a previously located point. It is given by extending one arm upward with
the palm of the hand forward.
4. GIVE ME A LINE OR THIS ISA HUB. This signal, given by the rodman or the
chainman, is intended to indicate a hub or to ask for a line on the point indicating the
exact location. It is given by holding a range pole horizontally overhead, then moving
it to a vertical position in front of the body. Sometimes the range pole tip is set on the
ground to serve as a pivot. Then the pole may be swayed slowly to the left and/or
right until the instrument man picks up the signal.
5. PLUMB THE ROD. The signal to plumb the rod to the desired direction (right or
left) isgiven by extending the appropriate arm upward and moving the hand in the
direction the top of the rod must be moved to make it vertical.
6. ESTABLISH A TURNING POINT. This signal is given when the instrument man
wants a turning point established during traversing or leveling operations. It is given
by extending either arm upward and making a circular motion.
7. THIS IS A TURNING POINT. The rodman gives this signal to indicate a turning
point. This is done using a leveling rod and applying the method described in 4.
8. WAVE THE ROD. This signal, given by the instrument man to the rodman, is
important to get the lowest stadia reading. The instrument man (or woman) extends
one arm upward, palm of the hand forward, and waves the arm slowly from side to
side. The rodman then moves the top ofthe leveling rod forward and backward slowly
about a foot each way from the vertical.
9. . FACE THE ROD. To give this signal, the instrument man extends both arms upward
to indicate to the rodman that the leveling rod is facing in the wrong direction.
10. REVERSE THE ROD. The instrument-man gives this signal by holding one arm
upward and the other downward, and then reversing their positions with full sidearm
swings.
11. BOOST THE ROD. The instrument man gives this signal by swinging both arms
forward and upward, palms of the hands upward. This signal is used when the
instrument man wants the leveling rod raised and held with its bottom end at a
specified distance, usually about 3 ft, above the ground.
12. MOVE FORWARD. The instrument man gives this signal by extending both arms out
horizontally from the shoulders, palms up, then swinging the forearms upward.
13. MOVE BACK. The instrument man gives this signal by extending one arm out
horizontally from the shoulder, hand and forearm extended vertically, and moving the
hand and forearm outward until the whole arm is extended horizontally.
14. UP OR DOWN. The instrument man gives this signal by extending one arm out
horizontally from the shoulder and moving it upward and downward. This directs the
rod man to slide the target up or down on the rod.
15. PICK UP THE INSTRUMENT. The party chief gives this signal by imitating the
motions of picking up an instrument and putting it on the shoulder. The party chief or
other responsible member of the party gives this signal, directing the instrument man
to move forward to the point that has just been established.
16. COME IN. The chief of party gives this signal at the end of the day’s work and at
othertimes, as necessary.Two additional hand signals are shown infigure below. Their
meanings are given in the nexttwo paragraphs.
17. Right arm extended diagonally down.
18.Right arm extended straight out from.
19. Right arm extended diagonally up
20. Left arm extended diagonally up and shows a simple system for numerals.out
from the left shoulder.
21. Left arm extended straight out from to the right from the body.
22. Left arm extended diagonally down to the body the left from the body
23. Both arms extended diagonally and out from the right shoulder down and out from
the body
24. Both arms extended out from body
25. Both arms extending out and up from body
26. Hitting top of head with up and down motion
27 RAISE FOR RED. The instrumentman gives this signal in a leveling operation to
ascertain the immediate whole-foot mark after reading the tenths and hundredths of a
foot. This usually happens when the rodman is near the instrument or if something is
in the way and obscures the whole-foot mark.
28. EXTEND THE ROD. The instrument man gives this signal when there is a need
to extend an adjustable rod. This happens when the height of the instrument becomes
greater than the standard length of the unextended adjustable level rod.